In preparation for the August 21st Tomasz Adamek vs. Michael Grant “Big Challenge” at Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, there was a Media Conference Call with Michael Grant and Eddie Mustafa last Thursday. We brought you some quick highlights immediately after the call ended. Here is a more detailed report of what was said.

Michael Grant quotes:

“I only have 3 losses, those losses were learning stones for me, stepping stones. At this point in time when I step into this fight with Adamek, it’s a great opportunity for me and I’m ready for it. I’m experienced; I’ve got a hell of a trainer; I’m having a hell of a camp. I mean everything is lining up. This fight is a very important opportunity to me and my family.

“I’m ready for this fight. More experienced, more solid at this level right now. I’ve got a nice team, great training camp. I’ve got Eddie Mustafa and this is one of the times that I’ve trained the hardest. The only time I’ve trained harder than this is when I fought Lennox Lewis, so this is how I know that things are lining up for me to be victorious.”

(How did Eddie change improve your style?) “I don’t think Eddie changed my style. He’s a hard knocks guy; he’s from the old school. You gotta know Eddie, he’s a good trainer, he’s been there, he’s been to the top, he’s been a world champion himself. He’s just basically using that talent, ability and experience to get me to the top cause he knows that his experience and my experience packed together means we basically have a hell of a combination. He hasn’t changed my style but he knows what I have, and knows what he sees in me and what we put on the table in camp and he also sees a victorious win for us.”

(There’s going to be some point when Adamek is going to get in close and beyond the jab, how are going to handle that?) “I don’t even see him getting beyond that jab. The jab is the most important punch in the game. From the jab perspective, if you’re getting past my jab you’re in range of my right hand, that’s the rule of thumb. Anytime that they step one inch past that jab, it’s the right hand that’s coming and if you know the fight game, then you follow that up with a left hook. Its speed, combination, consistency and pressure that is going to be the victorious winner over Adamek. Everybody is talking about how he’s slick, I don’t see it! I don’t see no slickness. I don’t see any of this! Only thing I can probably say is that the man he likes, you know, you can see that he’ll run around. But when he comes up against punching power, that man will try to punch you, that man tries to be slick.”

“You know it’s not gonna be a brawl because he’s (Adamek) not gonna fight like that. This is not a hard or complicated fight. It’s not like 2 chess players making the best moves. No, it’s not like that at all. He’s a very simple, ABC type guy.”

(Do you respect Adamek’s chin, like when he fought Arreola?) “You have to stick to your game plan. Listen, when I’m in there I don’t think about fighters other fights. I’m gonna think about that fight right there. And if I see an opening for a right hand, I’m not going to question his chin, that right hand’s coming.”

Eddie Mustafa quotes:

“Right now I can put Michael in the top 5 of his division. Because of his work ethic and because of what he brings to me in the gym. I am not trying to change his style, all I am doing is adding on to his style. Whatever he brings me I just take that to another level.”

(People are talking about Michael being the underdog do you see him that way?) “Not at all. Because they don’t see Michael the way I see Michael. I am working with him everyday in the gym. We are working on different things. Michael is the bigger man, he’s a harder punching man, he’s got the height, and reach. He’s got the good jab. You know, everybody’s gonna see a different a very different scenario come the 21st. They’re gonna see a more mature Michael Grant, as far as putting a little pressure on him and taking it from there goes.”

“You guys gotta remember something. I am the first guy to give Adamek his first defeat, not Floyd Mayweather, when he fought Chad Dawson. And I’m gonna give him his second defeat. It’s as simple as that.”

“Adamek is the perfect opponent for Mike. We’ve got about 5 or 6 sparring partners that are Adamek’s size and we have no problem with it. And we got guys that punch harder than Adamek. I’m content with what I’m seeing out of Michael.”

“I don’t know what Main Events was looking at when they signed Michael Grant, but I think they made one of the biggest mistakes in their history.

Kathy Duva quotes:

“Speaking for Main Events, we respect Michael Grant. We don’t think anybody is a stepping stone. I still have nightmares about the night that he fought Andrew Golota. We know that he’s not a stepping stone. We know that Tomasz has to fight bigger guys, better guys, if he’s going to be able to win the heavyweight title which is what he wants to do. And our opinion here is that the guy who wins this fight is going to go on to do that.”

“We believe that Tomasz is not going to get anywhere if he can’t learn to beat the best in his division and he’s going to have to get accustomed to very big fighters in order to do that. Michael Grant is, yes he’s a test, but also from Adamek’s perspective and Michael Grant’s perspective, this is his shot, this is his Rocky movie. That’s what makes a great promotion and that’s what we’re in the business of giving. We hope everybody agrees and wants to watch it on the 21st. Because it available on normal pay per view, so check your local listings, talk to your local cable or satellite provider, and of course the arena (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ) where Adamek is an amazing phenomenon. I know I will be holding my breath.”

“I know Michael, I love him, he used to be our fighter and I have no hard feelings. But obviously now we are on opposite sides and I’ll be rooting for my guy when the bell rings.”

Fight Info:

The “Brick City Boxing Series” card will take place at Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, and is promoted by Main Events and Ziggy Promotions in association with X-Cel Worldwide.

Tickets priced at $53, $78, $103 and $253 (ringside) can be purchased at Prudential Center Box Office, by calling TicketMaster at 800-745-3000 or www.Prucenter.com

The fight is being distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9PM EST / 6PM PST on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States and Viewer’s Choice and Bell TV in Canada for a suggested retail price of only $29.95

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